28 Ways to Solve Android Widget Problems

The problem may manifest as Error Loading Widget or Problem Loading Widget. The message may show up several times a day, driving you insane. It doesn’t specify which widget, and you may have even removed all of your widgets already. What’s wrong and how can you get rid of this thing?

This is a common experience if you use a custom widget or launcher, or if you’ve placed widgets on your SD card. Another typical culprit/cause is when you have disabled or removed an app or service tied to the widget. Also, the reason the error message is so persistent even after you remove the widgets in question is because the message itself is a type of widget. But you still shouldn’t have to live with it forever.

Solutions:

Reinstall the Widget App

Remove the widget and add it back. If you aren’t sure which widget is causing the issue, you might have to use the process of elimination.

Reboot

If widgets are freezing and it’s been weeks since your Android had any downtime, try rebooting. Long-press Power and select either Restart or Power Off. Try this before resorting to a factory reset.

Switch Back to Stock Launcher

Sometimes widgets and custom launchers don’t play well together. If you are using a custom launcher, it’s definitely worth trying to go back to stock to see if this resolves your issue. As cool as custom launchers like Nova Launcher are, they can contribute to this problem. Custom launchers have always been known to sometimes cause issues switching back and forth between portrait and landscape mode.

Change Permissions (If You are using a Custom Launcher)

Download a file explorer/manager like ES File Explorer. Browse to /system. Tap on the Mount R/W button. Transfer the launcher apk to your SD card if possible. Use the file explorer/manager to locate the apk. Press and hold the launcher apk file until you see an option to copy. Select Copy, then browse to /system/app and choose Paste. Long-press the launcher apk file again, but this time select Permissions. Tap on each of the upper 9 checkboxes to make those selections and press OK. Now navigate to /system. Choose the Mount R/O button. Restart your Android.

Download: ES File Explorer File Manager

Remove Widget & Error Message

Long-press both the widget and error message and drag them to the trash bin. Uninstall any associated apps.

Hard Reset

Pull the battery if your Android permits.

Watch Finger Placement

If you are having a hard time dragging widgets and/or error messages to the trash, try placing your finger at the top of the icon rather than in the center. Also ensure that you are long-pressing the icons for an adequate amount of time.

Remove Widgets from SD Card

Widgets and associated apps installed on the SD card may behave abnormally, and may even cause other widgets to as well. Move the widgets/apps to your internal memory. This is one of the top ways to resolve Android’s Problem Loading Widget error.

Stop All Google Services/Kill Google App (Temporarily)

This method is highly recommended if the widget you are having problems with is Google Search or any other related widget. Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google and tap on Force Stop if you must. If you are using a custom launcher, try switching to stock, and then shut down all Google services. Now you should be able to resume using your custom launcher.

Switch to Stock Widget

If you are using custom widgets, try switching back to stock to see if that fixes the problem.

Re-enable Apps Previously Disabled

If your widget depends on a companion app, it might not be able to function without it.

Update/Download Latest Version

Bugs get squashed with updates. Ensure that you are running the latest version of widget and any associated app.

Uninstall App Updates

Conversely, updates can sometimes cause issues. If the problem started after an update, and you are able to roll it back (uninstall the update), you can try this method to determine if the update itself is the problem. Even if the uninstall seems to help, keep your eye out for future updates that contain a fix.

Restore Launcher Last

If you did any drastic changes that required you to backup and restore data, try restoring all other data first, and your launcher last.

Improve Internet Reception

If your widget is dependent on the web, a problem with connection or reception could definitely hinder its performance.

Reinstall any App Associated with Widget

When a widget relies on an app to function, but the app is uninstalled, the software will always try to point to a resource that isn’t there.

Use an Uninstaller App

If you are having a hard time ridding your Android of apps or widgets, and you just want to be done them all, try using an uninstaller app for assistance.

Download: Easy Uninstaller App Uninstall

Turn off Power Management

Power management functions have only one goal and purpose—to preserve power. Also ensure that a battery-saving app like Greenify isn’t hibernating your apps/widgets.

Factory Reset

Backup your data first! Then, from your Apps menu, select Settings. Tap on Backup & reset. Choose Factory data reset, then Reset phone. This isn’t exactly the most convenient way to resolve the Android Problem Loading Widget error, but sometimes it’s what you have to do.

Check Background Processes

If you aren’t sure which widget the error message is referring to, accessing the list of background services may help. For 5.x and below, go to Settings > Apps > Running. For 6.0 and above, you will first need to enable Developer Options (Go to Settings > About Device and tap on Build Number about seven times until you receive a pop-up proclaiming that you are now a developer. Then go back to Settings where you will find a new setting called Developer Options.) Tap on Developer Options, then select either Running Services or Process Statistics.

Try Safe Mode/Process of Elimination

Again, if you are needing to determine which widget is causing the error message to trigger, you could also try Safe Mode or simply the process of elimination. Safe Mode will take any custom widgets or apps out of the equation, and allow you to access the behavior of the Android with just stock widgets and apps. You could also remove all or almost all widgets and add them back one or two at a time, or remove each widget one at a time to see if the error message goes away. You might want to conduct this test for at least a solid day or so, to give any widget/app time to act out if it’s destined to.

Use Widget Settings

It can vary by launcher, but many custom launchers provide/permit widget settings that you can adjust. For instance, if you have Apex Launcher installed, you can still long-press any blank area on the home screen and select Widgets from the options.

Clear Home Screen Data

Go to Settings > Apps > All and scroll until you find the current home screen. Tap on Clear Data.

Remove Old Widget

It might seem unnecessary to remove an old widget if you have the new, and many widgets will assist in the uninstallation of the old widget when you are installing the new. But it can help, so if you still have the old widget, get rid of it.

Make More Room

This error message can also stem from a lack of memory on your Android device.

Revert Back to Stock ROM

If you are the adventurous type that likes to flash new ROMs more often than you change your underwear, you might be breaking your widgets as a side effect.

Uninstall Associated App

Sometimes the error message goes away when you uninstall a related app.

Remove Touchwiz Widgets

Touchwiz is stock on Samsung, but since it isn’t native to Android it could be considered to be a custom launcher of sorts. Therefore, if it’s giving you grief, don’t feel bad about or be afraid to remove any Touchwiz widgets.

Conclusion

Widgets can be one of the main benefits of owning an Android. Sometimes you need quick access to information and services. Widgets can be both fun and useful. But that’s only if they are working properly, and why the Android Problem Loading Widget error can be so frustrating.

If you are encountering this issue after a recent update to your operating system, do keep in mind that users are bound to run into some problems, but they shouldn’t be permanent. Most problems with updates clear on their own—usually through subsequent updates—so keep an eye out if that’s your issue. This error can occur for several different reasons, however. We hope that at least one of these solutions has made that annoying message go away forever.

Do you have other tips you would like to share? Have you tried any of these? Let us know what worked or didn’t work for you in the comments.